Meet the 2024 Bronze Beaver Recipients

Lola Bryan began her distinguished volunteer career immediately after graduation, starting as an educational counselor in New Mexico, a role she has continued ever since. She played a pivotal role in revitalizing the MIT Club of New Mexico, serving as president for two years, and was honored with a lifetime membership due to her substantial impact on the alumni community. After moving to Colorado, Bryan continued her dedicated service as the vice president of programs for the MIT Club of Colorado. An active member of the Class of 1991, she also served as class secretary for 25 years. Upon moving to Washington, Bryan became the vice president of programs for the MIT Club of Puget Sound, where she successfully organized multiple anniversary gala events. She later served as president for 11 years, during which she achieved the club’s $100,000 endowment goal for its scholarship fund. Her extensive service includes roles on the Alumni Association Selection Committee, the Program Committee, the Leadership and Talent Pipeline Committee, and as both young alumni representative and later a term director on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She currently serves on the Association’s Corporation Nominating Committee. As part of her board service, Bryan served on the Committee on Alumni Online Communications working to set up the Infinite Connection and email forwarding for life. Her dedication has been recognized with three Great Dome Awards, the Harold E. Lobdell ’17 Distinguished Service Award, and the George B. Morgan ’20 Award. 

Marilyn Taggi Cisar’s extensive volunteer career has spanned decades, during which she has held many leadership and programming positions with the MIT Club of South Texas, including treasurer, secretary, assistant vice president for programs, and two terms as president. For her exceptional service, the club awarded her its highest honor, the Glen V. Dorflinger ’46 Award. Cisar has also served as an educational counselor for more than 40 years and has been the regional vice chair for Houston since 2012. Cisar’s dedication extends to the Class of 1976, where she has been a member of the Reunion Gift Committee and serves as class treasurer. She has played an integral role in engaging her living group, Conner 3, organizing a multigenerational reunion, and raising $150,000 for the renovation of Burton-Conner House. Her efforts earned her a Great Dome Award in 2023. Cisar also keeps her peers connected through monthly Zoom meetings; more than 100 have been held since 2020. She was named to the 2007 Volunteer Honor Roll of Service and was honored with the Harold E. Lobdell ’17 Distinguished Service Award in 2010. She also received another Great Dome Award for her contributions to the MIT Club of South Texas Science Olympiad Invitational. Cisar is married to fellow volunteer Alan Cisar ’73 and is the mother of Cecilia Cisar ’16.

David Fung has demonstrated exemplary leadership and service across many volunteer roles over four decades. His extensive involvement includes serving as a term director and invited guest on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, chairing the Annual Giving Board, and taking part in various leadership committees, including the Finance Committee, Club Council, and the Ad Hoc Committee for Strategic Plan Progress. Fung has been at the forefront of efforts to foster loyal philanthropy among alumni, serving as chair of the William Barton Rogers Society and cultivating leadership-level gifts. For more than 20 years, Fung has served his class in multiple committee roles, including chairing the Fund Reunion Gift Committee and acting as a class agent. He has also held regional club roles for a cumulative 15 years, including president of the Club of Shanghai and various positions in the Club of New York, such as vice president for membership, treasurer, and executive vice president. Currently, he serves as the club’s president. Fung has volunteered as an educational counselor for 35 years and is a founding member and former treasurer of the Chinese Alumni Group. His contributions have been recognized with the Henry B. Kane ’24 Award for excellence in fundraising in 2015 and a Great Dome Award in 2020. Fung’s efforts have been instrumental in shaping alumni initiatives and fostering a keen sense of community. 

Nelson Lin has dedicated more than 26 years to volunteering at MIT, making a significant impact on the community and advancing graduate engagement. From his beginnings as a telethon caller to his current role as a member of the MIT Corporation, Lin has held a wide range of positions. His leadership record includes service on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Corporation Nominating Committee (two terms), the Club Council, the Graduate Alumni Council, and many ad hoc committees focused on graduate alumni engagement. In 2022, Lin was selected as an alumni nominee to the Corporation, where he serves on two visiting committees. Additionally, Lin has contributed more than 20 years to the Club of Northern California, holding roles such as club president, vice president of membership, and Executive Board chair. Lin’s recent involvement with the Graduate Alumni Council, starting in 2018, and later as co-chair for a two-year term, has been particularly noteworthy. During this time, he played a pivotal role in rethinking graduate alumni engagement in an era of virtual and hybrid programming. Lin has participated in all opportunities available to graduate-exclusive degree holders from MIT, extending his service to fundraising, career advising, event hosting, and marketing communications. Lin’s decades of volunteer experience have enriched the Association, the Corporation, and the graduate alumni community. His dedication was recognized with the Harold E. Lobdell ’17 Distinguished Service Award in 2013 and a Great Dome Award in 2021.

Richard “Rick” Lufkin’s extensive volunteer history highlights his unwavering commitment to a diverse array of alumni activities. His remarkable contributions to the Cardinal & Gray Society, the Class of 1968, the Club of Northern New Jersey, and the Educational Council exemplify the profound impact he has made. Since assuming the role of chair of the Cardinal & Gray Society in July 2019, Lufkin has played a key role in organizing 25 society events. In 2019, Lufkin co-chaired the planning committee for his 50th reunion, which set an attendance record. Building on this success, he contributed significantly to the planning of the Class of 1968’s 55th reunion. Lufkin’s involvement with his local club began in 2004 when he joined the board as a director. His tenure of service to his class is truly exceptional. In addition to his regular deep involvement on his class reunion committees, Lufkin chaired or co-chaired many of them. Beginning in 1978, he has held a thorough list of class officer positions, including secretary, vice president, president, and co-president. Beyond his class and club volunteer work, Lufkin has served as an educational counselor for more than 30 years. Starting his journey as an educational counselor in 1986, he quickly advanced to vice chair for the Northern New Jersey region, a position he held until 2022. Lufkin was a cofounder in 1978 of the MIT Enterprise Forum in Cambridge and a member of the board of the New York chapter through the ’80s and ’90s, serving several years as chapter president. Lufkin was elected to the Alumni Association Selection Committee in 2014, serving a three-year term. In recognition of his dedication and service, Lufkin has received many awards, including the George B. Morgan ’20 Award, a Great Dome Award, and the Harold E. Lobdell ’17 Distinguished Service Award in 2010. Throughout all his efforts, he has consistently embodied the core values of the Alumni Association and MIT.